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Friday, February 22, 2019

John Harris Jr. - The Founder of the City of Harrisburg

John Harris, Jr. is credited with being the founder of the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg is the capital city of Pennsylvania, located in Dauphin County. His grave and memorial marker are part of the Pennsylvania Historical Markers trail.

If you're following the trail and want to visit the site you'll find his grave and marker located in the Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard Cemetery located at 3500 Sharon Street. You can enter the churchyard cemetery via the entrance gate, open year-round.

The Historical Marker Information:

John Harris, Jr.
Birth 1726
Death 1791

Buried here is the founder of the city of Harrisburg. In 1785, he and five others planned and named the city.

About John Harris Jr. - He was the owner and operator of Harris's Ferry (Riverboat Crossing) across the Susquehanna River. He inherited the business from his father John Harris, Sr. upon his death. According to wikipedia ~ Harris the son of John Harris Sr., who is considered the first settler to establish a trading post along the Susquehanna River at what would later become the state capital of Pennsylvania.

There is a lot of information about the Harris family that is available online, via various books and you can learn more by visiting the Historical Society of Dauphin County located on 219 S. Front Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Historical Society offers guided tours of the Harris-Cameron Mansion & Museum and has an on-site research library. Admission prices, hours of operation and driving directions are posted on their website.